Audiobook Review: The Watchmaker of Filigree Street

I’m so glad I traded in one Audible credit for The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley. Before I rush out to find a physical copy to harbor and love, I’ll tell you what I thought about the Audible recording by Thomas Judd.

Your science can save a man’s life, but imagination makes it worth living.

This is only the second audiobook I’ve listened to, and while the first was a spellbinding experience in every way, this time around I was grateful for the spellbinding story that kept me listening. First of all, I’ve decided that The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is now one of my favorite books. The depth of the story, the intertwining of characters, the pushing of social norms, the time period, the use of mechanical and chemical properties and devices, a mixture of the sinister and the lovely, all complement each other phenomenally. Author Natasha Pulley has crafted a wonderful piece of work, and it has made me want to read The Bedlam Stacks so much sooner.

Second, I’m thankful that the above was all so wonderful, because if not, it would have made abandoning the audiobook version of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street quite painless. Narrator Thomas Judd’s voice throughout the book was borderline monotonous, and although his switches between character voices were noticeable, they did not vary enough to make those voices believable. Each voice was like a mocking impression. Judd’s voice also had a quickness to it, which was problematic every now and then, especially during scenes where chemicals were being described or watch apparatuses were being broken down. This quickness teased action and excitement in the tone of his voice, but they did not often come fully to the surface.

While I think audiobook lovers would enjoy listening to this book, if you have not yet explored audiobooks I would recommend just reading the physical book copy.

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street Natasha Pulley
Performed by Thomas Judd